Washington is concerned that the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority could collapse in the coming days over the dead end in the talks on the settlement building freeze. The American ambassador to Tel Aviv, James Cunningham has told European Union envoys in a briefing that the Obama administration's worry stems from the fact that both sides are holding steadfast to their positions.

European diplomats, cited Tuesday by Haaretz newspaper, conveyed Cunningham noted during the briefing there is still no solution to the deadlock. The U.S. envoy added that the Obama administration was pressuring both Israel and the Palestinians to reach an agreement on the issue. Additionally, Cunningham stated there are a number of ideas for a resolution that the U.S. has not put forth as a mediating solution. "We will offer a bridging proposal only if the two sides ask for it, and that has still not happened," the U.S. ambassador told his European colleagues. "We are very concerned that there is not much time left for finding a solution."